Can India Deal With a Bullying Trump?

Donald Trump, following his election, has been pushing his agenda based on his election manifesto of MAGA (Make America Great Again). While every national leader is primarily interested in the well-being of his people, yet carries allies along on occasions ignoring their shortcomings, even if they appear inimical. India continues to support Maldives and Bangladesh, despite their pronounced anti-India sentiments.

- HARSHA KAKAR

Trump, on the other hand, believes that he can bulldoze his way as the US needs none while the world needs it. This flows from his presumption that Washington dominates the world, militarily and economically, and that all states must submit to it. His ego gets a boost when global leaders call and accept conditions he lays down.

He began his current term by sending a message that the world is 'ripping off the US' and he is the 'messiah' to put a stop to it. On internal matters he conveyed that all existing institutions are flawed, exploited by the powerful, and need to be restructured and realigned. The message that Trump is sending is that he is in a rush to fulfill his poll promise of MAGA. How it impacts America's soft power and global standing in the long term is immaterial.

Relationships and alliances built over decades are being dumped on the sidewalk, solely because of Trump's preconceived beliefs. A few of his recent actions highlight this. Accusing his neighbours of encouraging illegal immigrants and drugs to cross into the US, Trump imposed high tariffs on Canada and Mexico.

Instead of imposing caution by dialogue, he used a hammer threatening to crush their economy. Justin Trudeau, whom he anyway disliked, was compelled to resign in a few days. Canada lamely attempted to place counter tariffs, aware that it was just a face saver. Trump brought both nations to heel, solely because their economies were dependent on the US. It was outright bullying.